A rapid tiebreak without blitz games was enough to determine the last two semi finalists in the World Cup in Khanty Mansiysk.

Ruslan Ponomariov surprised Vugar Gashimov in the first two rapid games gaining a comfortable 2-0 advantage. Ponomariov settled for a draw in the third game, to win the match with total score 3,5:1,5. Boris Gelfand drew in his first game, but was more convincing in the next ones, winning both rapid games againt Jakovenko and progressing with a match score 3,5:1,5.

The World Cup continues with the semi finals, where Ponomariov - Malakhov and Karjakin - Gelfand will compete for a spot in the final and a chance to participate in the 2010 Candidates tournament.